Blogs from Central, Cambodia, Asia - page 5

Our chapter in Cambodia is now finished. In our first Cambodia blog we wrote about the dark chapter in the history of the country, so here we will focus on our experiences of the present. Our first impression of the country was that the population is somewhat poorer in comparison to Vietnam. In Phnom Penh we met quite a few beggars and the sad sight of people without arms and legs. Even today there are still many landmines in the country, so not the best place for a lonesome trek in the wild. In general the people seem to be very friendly. We can give a few examples. The Cambodians really care about us. We certainly shouldn’t feel tired, so all the time a (new) tuk tuk driver offered his services. Also we shouldn’t have any ... read more

From Wednesday to Friday we went to a claypot village called Kompong Chnang. On the busride we had the normal break, where people can eat something. But this break was not too long. The bus wanted to leave, everybody was in the bus, only Sython my project supervisor was missing. So I had to explain the driver with my very good Khmer knowledge (hands and feet) that there is somebody missing. But in the end we all arrived there. On Wednesday we went around the village to a lot of different people, who were all working with clay but on different ways. On Thursday I could have my own try with making pottery, which is really not easy! My hands were forming the pottery, but it was this lady that leaded my hands to form it. ... read more

Most people we’d met in Laos had said that, by comparison, Cambodia was a disappointment (with the obvious exception of Angkor Wat that is universally raved about). However, nearing the end of a month here we’d have to disagree. What Cambodia lacks in attractions it more than makes up for with its’ people who are delightful. In Laos you are always greeted with a warm “sabaidee” (hello), but further intimacies are hard to extract. In Cambodia you receive an equally welcoming “hello” (sadly not their own “suas’dei”), but it doesn’t end there; the people are that little less reserved, that bit jollier, and hence more approachable. Even the dastardly auto-rickshaw drivers are politeness itself: “Does sir/madam want tuktuk?” We never do, invariably preferring – to their astonishment – to walk. Nevertheless, after our equally polite “no ... read more

Nov 16, 2011 -I am one day away from exiting Canada for my next Habitat trip. We have a full team (12 people) and will all meet up in Phenom Penh on December 3d. Before the build I am stopping off in Korea and hope to go to the DMZ plus do a birding trip. I will fly to Cambodia on the 21st to do a bike trip, before arriving in PP on the 3d of December. I am now in Phenom Penh after arriving from Seoul last night.Excellent 3 days in Korea including a tour of the DMZ and a birding tour. Quite a weather contrast - was +4c in Seoul and +30c here now.Bruce had arranged a Tuc Tuc taxi for me - motorcycle with cart which cost $7 to go from airport to ... read more

(N) After bidding a fond farewell to Bodhi Villa, the four of us jumped on a bus to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s main beach town, Party Central and a firm fixture on the South East Asia backpacker trail. We skipped it and took a boat from there to Koh Rong, a tropical island three choppy hours by boat away. Matt and I weren’t in particular need of beach time but Jamie and Lisa were – they hadn’t been at the sea for months and had two months of tough travelling in India ahead of them – and we figured it would be a great end to our time together. And it was. We shared a nice bungalow on a hill overlooking the beach, swam during the day, listened to music and chatted away in the evening. We also ... read more